Sample cartridge filling and closing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sample cartridge is provided with interior lip and is adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of sample material and closure means therein. The lip being effective to grippingly engage the closure means so as to establish a fluid pressure seal therewith and prevent expansion or elastic return of the sample material contained in the cartridge. Additionally, a machine is disclosed for metering the sample material and closure means to the cartridge so as to obtain uniform density or packing of the material in the cartridge. A rotatable valve is provided for receiving the sample material and thereafter is movable to a position in alignment with a packing ram which moves the sample material and closure means to a position effecting the packing of the material in the cartridge and securing the closure means in gripping engagement with the lip of the cartridge.

United States Patent Kummer [54] SAMPLE CARTRIDGE FILLING AND CLOSINGAPPARATUS [72] Inventor: Charles K. Kummer, St. Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis,

22 Filed: Nov.20, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 91,290

[52] US. Cl. ..53/271, 53l328 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65b 1/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..53/268, 271, 272, 281, 283,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,493 5/1960 Scherer.53/281 x 3,133,388 5/1964 l-lonisch ..s3/2s1 x 1,701,887 2/1929l-lellmann et al ..s3/2s1 x 1451 Sept. 19, 1972 Primary Examiner-RobertL. Spruill Attorney-Robert W. Brukardt and Lawrence J. Hurst [57]ABSTRACT A sample cartridge is provided with interior lip and is adaptedto receive a predetermined quantity of sample material and closure meanstherein. The lip being effective to grippingly engage the closure meansso as to establish a fluid pressure seal therewith and prevent expansionor elastic return of the sample material contained in the cartridge.Additionally, a machine is disclosed for metering the sample materialand closure means to the cartridge so as to obtain uniform density orpacking of the material in the cartridge. A rotatable valve is providedfor receiving the sample material and thereafter is movable to aposition in alignment with a packing ram which moves the sample materialand closure means to a position effecting the packing of the material inthe cartridge and securing the closure means in gripping engagement withthe lip of the cartridge.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PKTE'NTEDSEP 19 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 ATTORNEYPATENTEDsEP 19 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR CHARLES K. KUMMER BY ATTORNEYSAMPLE CARTRIDGE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention is primarily concerned with the packing ofsamples for testing whereinit is necessary that the volume or bulkdensity of the material being sampled is maintained uniform. By bulkdensity, it is meant that a given weight of material will be confined 1within a given volume. This is particularly significant wherein smallsamples are to be utilized and the analysis procedures are particularlysensitive such as in neutron activation analysis. Prior attempts topackage samples have required that the sample material be hand-packedinto cartridges and thereafter the cartridges are closed he means of ascrew cap. This was undesirable and disadvantageous since that handpacking resulted in various degrees of pressure being exerted on thematerial such that uniformbulk densities were not obtained. The effectof non-uniform pressure being exerted on the sample material is that thesample material could be overly compressed and air pockets or spacesproduced in the sample cartridge. Since the material would'not beconsistently packed within a given volume, erroneous or poor readings intheanalysis of the material could result. In addition, if thehand-packing operations were not performed with sufficient pressure,there was a great probability that the elasticity of the material beingtested would be sufficient for it to expand above the top of the samplecartridge following packing so that the placement of the screw cap onthe cartridge was difficult and could result in the loss of a portionofthe material being tested. This loss of material would also result inerroneous or poor results.

In addition, these prior attempts to provide the sample material incartridges have required a great degree of handling so that asubstantial amount of time was required in the packing of each of thesamples.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, the principal object of thepresent invention to provide a means of sealing samples in a cartridgewhereby a given weight of material is confined within a given volume sothat the bulk density of the sample materials will be substantiallyuniform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forautomatically loading and closing the capsule device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forautomatically feeding the sample material and closure means to thecapsule with a predetermined pressure so as to insured that the samplematerials will be packed into a given volume and the bulk densities ofthe samples are maintained substantially uniform.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cartridgedevice having closure means which is automatically fitted into place andwherein the apparatus utilized for loading the cartridge device insuresthe proper placement of the closure means in the cartridge device.

Briefly, one aspect of the present invention comprises a samplecartridgehaving inwardly extending lip means in the opening thereof andclosure means adapted for insertion into the cartridge, said closuremeans being adapted for gripping engagement with said lip means toprovide a pressure fluid seal therewith.

Another aspect of the present inventionis an apparatus for filling saidcartridge which comprises a rotary valve adapted .to receive apredetermined quantity of the sample material and adapted to be rotatedto a position in alignment with the cartridge and the closure means, anda packing ram moveable to a position positioning 0 said closure meansand sample in the cartridge.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent by referring to the appended specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS embodying the present invention andhaving a closure means positioned therein,

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure device ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention having aportion thereof broken away,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,the sample cartridge or capsule device indicated generally at 1 consistsof cylindrical capsule portion 2 for receiving the material to besampled and a closure device of lid 3. The cartridge 2 has an opening 4therein with an annular inwardly extending lip or bead 5 which issubstantially in a triangular shape. The shape of the capsule 2 may beof any configuration and the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 ismerely one example of the type of capsule or cartridge which may beutilized for conveying samples through pneumatic tubes. The closuredevice or cap 3 is provided with a groove 6 and an angular flanged lowerportion 7. The groove 6 is sized such that when the closure device 3 isplaced in the capsule 2, the lip means 5 and particularly the opposedsides of the triangular bead are grippingly engaged by the opposed sidesof the groove 6 and a pressure fluid seal is established between theclosure device 3 and the capsule 2. In addition, it should be noted thatthe angles flange portion 7 is adapted for readily being received withinthe capsule 2 and easily passes over the upper tapering portion of thetriangular head of the lip 5 for insertion and thereafter the flange 7and the lower tapering portion of the triangular bead of the lip 5prevents removal of the closure device 3 from the capsule 2. Thus, theflange member 7 serves to insure that the gripping engagement betweenthe lip means 5 and groove 6 are maintained.

It should be noted that the cavity 8 formed in the capsule 2 when theclosure device 3 is positioned forms a core for the sample materialhaving a selected volume and when the cavity 8 is completely filled by agiven weight of material, the bulk density of the material containedtherein will be substantially uniform.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sample packing apparatus, generallyindicated at 10, is shown for'automatically packing a predeterminedamount of sample material and the closure device 3 into the capsule orcartridge 2. The automatic packing apparatus is provided with a base 11having connected thereto a standard commercially available air cylinder12. The air cylinder 12 is provided with a push rod 13 connected in astandard manner. The air cylinder 12 is of the positive air actuationtype such that the piston contained therein is responsive to airpressure applied thereto for moving the push rod 13 in a forward andreverse direction. The selection of the size of the air cylinder 12 isdetermined by the magnitude of force which it is desirable to produce bythe push rod 13. g

A sample loading and control means indicated generally at 14 isconnected to the base 11 by suitable means such as bolts, at a positionadjacent to the outwardly extending end of the push rod 13 when it is inits inoperative position. The control device 14 includes a mountingblock or housing 15 having a large-opening 16 therein which is connectedto a smaller opening 17 I and the openings 16 and 17 extend through themounting block l5'as best seen in FIG. 4. An opening 18 is providedthrough the block member 15 and intersects the opening 16. The opening18 is provided in axial alignment with the push rod 13 and is such thata very close tolerance is maintained between the walls thereof and thepush rod when the push rod passes therethrough. In addition, themounting block 15 contains a sample material inlet 19 which is providedcentrally of the block 15 and connected with the opening 16. A, funnelor sample receiving member 20 may be connected to the block 15,by'suitable means such as bolts 21, in axial alignment with the sampleopening 19 for receivinga predetermined quantity of material to besampled.

A rotary valve member 22 is provided in the block member 15. The valvemember 22 has a main body portion 23 which is received in the opening16, and a reduced body portion 24 which has a bearing 25 pressed thereonand is received in the opening 17. In addition, the valve member 22 hasa hub portion 26 connected to the body portion 24 and the hub portionextends outwardly from the block member 15.-The main body portion 23 ofthe valve member 22 and the opening 16 in the block member 15 areprovided with finishes and a close tolerance so that when the valvemember 22 is moved, there is no binding of the parts and yet there is noloss of material therebetween. A retaining plate 15A is provided on theend of the block member 15 after the valve member 22 has been put intoplace to insure that the valve member 22 is maintained in properposition. The retaining plate 15A may be secured in place by suitablemeans such as set screws 158. A centrally located passage or chamber 27is provided through the main body portion 23 of the valve member 22. Therotary valve member 22 is movable such that the passage 27 therein mayeither be in alignment with the sample receiving opening 19 or may berotated to a position in alignment with the opening 18 in theblock 15.Aspreviously mentioned, the tolerance maintained between the rotaryvalve 22 and the opening 16 of the block or housing 15 is such that finegrains of material or portions of the sample being tested will not belost as the valve is rotated to valve unit 22 and as specifically shownin FIG. 5, may

be secured or locked into place in the grooved member 31 connected tothe base 1 1. In addition, a spring member 32 is connected to the handlever 29 and the sleeve member 28 and is efi'ective for biasing the handlever into the grooved block member 31 to insure proper location of thehand lever 29 and valve member The mechanism or jig for holding thesample cartridge 2 while it is being loaded, indicated generally at 33,is provided adjacent to' the sample supply means 14. The cartridgeholding member 33 includes a base portion 34 connected to the basemember 11. by suitable means such as screws 35. The base member 34 isprovided with a recessed opening 36, adjacent to the sample supply means14, having a preselected shape to conform with one-halfof theconfiguration of the capsule unit 2. The opening 36 is aligned such thatwhen a capsule 2 is placed therein, the opening of the capsule or cavity8 will be substantially aligned with the opening 18 of the sample supplymeans 14.

.The opposite end of the base member 34 is provided with recesses orslots 37 for receivingthe bifurcated end 38 a mating or clamping blockmember 39. The clamping block member 39 is connected to the base member34 by means of pin 40 such that the block 39 may be pivoted about saidpin. The block member 39 is provided with an opening 41 which conformsto the other half of the cartridge member 2 such that when the basemember 34 and block member 39 are in mating engagement, the cavities oropenings 36 and 41 define an opening having the precise configuration ofthe capsule 2. It should be understood that other proportions ofrecessed areas could be provided in each of the block members forproperly positioning the cartridge 2; however, it has been found to bepreferable that each of the blocks have a recessed area foraccommodating approximately one-half of the cartridge. ln

this manner, the cartridge 2 may be properly positioned with an opening2A provided in the jig 34 in substantial axial alignment with theopening 18 in the housing 15. Also attached to the clamping block member39 is the bifurcated end of the fixture hand lever 42 and thisconnection may be made by any suitable means, such as pins 43. The handlever 42 has a slot 44 therethrough which receives the pin 45 providedon the slide locking member 46. The slide locking member 46 is held inplace on the block member 39 by means of hold-down members 47 and 48having slots therein which permit the ready movement of the fixture lockmember 46 in a horizontal direction. It should be noted that a slot 49is provided on the sample control means 14 which receives the end-of thefixture'lock 46 to insured that the capsule 2 will be locked into placewhen the block 39 is placed in mating engagement with the base member34.

In addition, it should be noted that a feed mechanism 50 is provided onthe sample supply means 14 by suitable means such as bolts, between thepush rod 13 and the opening 18 such that closure devices or lids 3 maybe automatically fed to a position in alignment with the opening 18. Thefeed mechanism 50 essentially consists of a groove 51 which allows theclosure device 3 to be sequentially fed in the predetermined alignmentto the position adjacent to the opening 18 from a source of closuredevices not shown.

In operation of the apparatus 10, the push rod 13 is in its extremerightward or inoperative position when viewed from the drawings and thehand lever 29 is in its upright position connecting the passage orchamber 27 in the rotary valve 22 with the sample supply inlet 19 andfunnel 20. The hand lever 42 and fixture block 39 are in the dottedposition shown in FIG. 3 which enables a sample cartridge device 2 to beplaced into the g cavity 36 and the fixture block 39 moved to itsposition in mating engagement with the base member 34. The hand lever 42is then pulled forward to move the fixture locking member 46 into itlocking position with the end.

thereof in the groove 49. The capsule 2 is then locked into a positionsuch that the cavity 8 thereof is alignment with the opening 18 of thesample feed mechanism 14. A predetermined amount or quantity of thematerial to be sampled is then supplied through the funnel and samplesupply 19 into the passage or chamber 27 of the rotary valve 22. Oncethe sample material has completely passed into the chamber 27, the handlever 29 is moved to its position connecting the chamber 27 with thepassage 18 of the sample feed means by placing the hand lever 22 in theslotted groove of the block 31. The spring 32 serves to insure that thehand lever 29 and thereby the chamber 27 is not moved out of alignmentduring the steps of packing the sample into the capsule 2. After thechamber 27 has been moved to it position in alignment with the opening18, the air cylinder 12 is actuated serving to drive the piston and pushrod 13 in its operative position towards the left as viewed in the FIGS.3 and 4 such that the push rod 13 is effective to engage and move aclosure device 3 into and through the chamber 27, thereby beingeffective to move the sample material contained in the chamber 27through the passage 18 and into the cavity 8 of the capsule 2. Since thepressure which is exerted by the push rod 13 may be controlled by theair pressure supplied to the air cylinder 12, it ispossible topredeterminately adjust this pressure such that the material and closuredevice supplied to the capsule 2 will only be inserted with enoughpressure to insured that the flange member 7 passes the lip means 5 andthat the gripping engagement is effective between groove 6 and said lip.The closure device 3 is then fitted in place in the capsule 2 and thesample material contained in the cavity 8 substantially fills saidcavity without the occurrence of voids or air spaces due toover-compression of the material as the lid is applied thereto. The aircylinder is then actuated such that the push rod 13 is moved to itsrightward end or inoperative position and the hand lever 29 may bereturned to its original starting position. The capsule device 2 maythen be removed from the fixture opening and further processed asdesired.

It should be noted that if desired, the apparatus 10 may be providedwith a safety circuit by providing an electrical switch in theslottedgroove member 31, The switch would serve as a check on theactuation of the air cylinder 12. In this manner, only when the lever 29was engaging the switch could the air cylinder 12 be actuated This wouldprevent the air cylinder 12 from being actuated when the passage 27 wasnot in alignment with the opening 18.

From the foregoing, it is now apparent that a novel sample capsule andapparatus for packing same has been disclosed meeting the objects andadvantages set out hereinbefore and that minor modifications or changescould be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically packing a material and closure means intoa cartridge which grippingly engages the closure means comprising abase, valve means on said base including a chamber for receiving thematerial, said valve means being 'movable in response to an appliedforce from a first position for receiving the material from a supplyinto said chamber to a second position preventing further supply ofmaterial to said chamber and permitting the flow of material from saidchamber to said cartridge, a jig member on said base adjacent one sideof said valve means and having a recessed portion therein substantiallyconforming to the shape of said cartridge, said recessed portion beingadapted to receive and hold said cartridge therein during the fillingand closure of said cartridge, an opening in said jig member connectingsaid recessed portion with said chamber when said valve means is in thesecond position, packing means on said base movable between aninoperative position and an operative position, other means on said basebetween said packing means and said valve means controlling the supplyof closure means to a position in alignment with said chamber when saidvalve means is in the second position to permit the flow of material tosaid cartridge, said packing means being responsive to an applied forceto move toward its operative position engaging said closure means andurging said closure means and the material from said chamber into thecartridge until said closure means is grippingly engaged by saidcartridge.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jig member comprisesa cartridge holding member and a clamping member pivotally connected tosaid holding member, said recessed portion being defined by a firstrecessed portion in said holding member having a shape substantiallyconforming to the shape of a portion of said cartridge and a secondrecessed portion in said clamping member having a shape conforming tothe shape of the remaining portion of said cartridge and aperture meansin said holding member and said clamping member connecting said recessedportions with said chamber when said valve is in the second position topermit the flow of material to said cartridge.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprisesa housing,,an enlarged opening in said housing and an axially alignedopening through said housing and connecting with said enlarged opening,a valve member movable in said enlarged opening and in sealingengagement with said housing, said valve member having a passagetherethrough to define said chamber, said valve member and chamber beingmovable from the first position receiving the material into the chamberto the second position wherein said chamber is aligned with said axiallyaligned opening, a

hub portion on said valve member extending through said housing and alever connected to said hub portion

1. Apparatus for automatically packing a material and closure means into a cartridge which grippingly engages the closure means comprising a base, valve means on said base including a chamber for receiving the material, said valve means being movable in response to an applied force from a first position for receiving the material from a supply into said chamber to a second position preventing further supply of material to said chamber and permitting the flow of material from said chamber to said cartridge, a jig member on said base adjacent one side of said valve means and having a recessed portion therein substantially conforming to the shape of said cartridge, said recessed portion being adapted to receive and hold said cartridge therein during the filling and closure of said cartridge, an opening in said jig member connecting said recessed portion with said chamber when said valve means is in the second position, packing means on said base movable between an inoperative position and an operative position, other means on said base between said packing means and said valve means controlling the supply of closure means to a position in alignment with said chamber when said valve means is in the second position to permit the flow of material to said cartridge, said packing means being responsive to an applied force to move toward its operatiVe position engaging said closure means and urging said closure means and the material from said chamber into the cartridge until said closure means is grippingly engaged by said cartridge.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jig member comprises a cartridge holding member and a clamping member pivotally connected to said holding member, said recessed portion being defined by a first recessed portion in said holding member having a shape substantially conforming to the shape of a portion of said cartridge and a second recessed portion in said clamping member having a shape conforming to the shape of the remaining portion of said cartridge and aperture means in said holding member and said clamping member connecting said recessed portions with said chamber when said valve is in the second position to permit the flow of material to said cartridge.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a housing, an enlarged opening in said housing and an axially aligned opening through said housing and connecting with said enlarged opening, a valve member movable in said enlarged opening and in sealing engagement with said housing, said valve member having a passage therethrough to define said chamber, said valve member and chamber being movable from the first position receiving the material into the chamber to the second position wherein said chamber is aligned with said axially aligned opening, a hub portion on said valve member extending through said housing and a lever connected to said hub portion for moving said valve member between the first position and the second position and locking means on said base for releasable gripping engagement with said lever to secure said valve member in the second position and aligned with said axially aligned opening. 